Snap-switch.



* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MONROE GUETT, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE HART & HEGEMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SNAP-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,246, dated November 21, 1899.

Application filed August 16, 1899. Serial No. 727,372. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MONROE GUETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, Hartford county, Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Snap- Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in snap-switches for use in electrical service, the main objects being simplicity and economy of construction, effectiveness, and durability.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the switch mechanism, the casing therefor being in section. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are similar views, the parts of the switch mechanism being in different positions. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the switch mechanism. Figs. 6

and? are views of details. I

A is a base of any suitable material, preferably insulating material.

B is a standard or frame mounted on the base A.

B is a shoulder carried thereby to act as a back-stop for the contact-carrier, as hereinafter described.

C is a contact-carrier, suitably hinged or pivoted toward one end.

D D are contact-blades, suitably mounted on the carrier.

E E are the opposite terminals of a circuit, which may be given any desired lead, not necessary herein to refer to in detail, since the mechanism described is equally applicable to a single or double pole switch, orit may be employed merely as a contact-breaker.

F is a spring, the two ends of which may be arranged to engage the opposite sides of a shoulder C on the contact-carrier C.

G is an operating part, which may best be seen in detail in Fig. 7. Said operating part G is pivotally mounted and carries an ofiset shoulder G, formed in an arc of a circle taking the pivotal axis of movement of the op erating part as the center of the circle of the said arc.

G is an offset shoulder on the operating part G, which shoulder projects between the two ends of the aforesaid spring F.

(J is a lip formed on the carrier C and in an arc concentric with the axis of movement of the said contact-carrier.

Operation: Starting with the part as shown in Fig. 1, it will be seen that the shoulder G of the operating part stands over the lip C of the carrier. By grasping the handle G of the operating part and swinging it into the opposite angle of inclination the engagement of the shoulder G with the lip C will hold the carrier stationary, as shown in Fig. 2, while the spring F is being put under ten sion. When the operating part has been moved sufiiciently far to free shoulder G from lip C the carrier C will be quickly thrown upward into the position shown in Fig. 3. As soon as the handleG is released the operating part Will, under influence of the spring, be turned in a reverse. direction a sufficient amount to cause the inner surface of the shoulder G to engage the lower edge of the lip C thus locking the operating part in the position shown in Fig. 3. By moving the op,- eratin g part from the position shown in- Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4 tension of the spring F will again be increased, so as to throw the carrier 0 as soon as the shoulder G has been moved out of engagement with the lip C at which instant the. carrier is snapped down, bringing the contact members and their respective terminals into electrical connection. Upon releasing the operating part the spring F will move the same backward, so that the parts will again assume the position of Fig. 1.

It will be observed that the construction of the switch is such that the single part G is the operating part, the tension-frame, and the locking device, thus reducing the actual number of moving parts to three, including the spring.

In the particular form of switch shown in the drawings the blade portion D D is bifurcated, the shank portion being insulated from the carrier, as at H H.

It should be understood that I contemplate changes of construction and that many changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What I claim is- 1. In a snap-switch, a base, a hinged contact-carrier, a hinged operating part, a spring engaging said contact-carrier and said operating part, a lateral projection on the contactcarrier and a lateral projection upon the operating, part to alternately engage opposite ends of the projection upon said contact-carrier.

2. In a snap-switch, a base, a hinged contact-carrier, a hinged operating part, shonldered offsets carried by said carrier and operating part, a spring engaging both of said ofisets, a lip on said contact-carrier, and means carried by the operating, part to alternately engage opposite ends of said lip.

3. In a snap-switch, a base, a hinged contact-carrier, a hinged operating part, a spring engaging both of said parts, a lip on the contact-carrier, and means carried by the operating parts to alternately engage opposite ends of said lip.

MONROE GUE'IT.

Witnesses:

H. P. RICHARDS, HENRY BISSELL. 

